Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,994 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($198,500 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,649)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $34,994/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$34,994
$82,671 vs $47,677/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
81% lower
168.5 vs 891.4 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$378k less
$198,500 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bend to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $198,500 median home), income ($82,671 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Springfield, MA are about 2,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.